abandonaron

Abandonaron is the third‑person plural form of the Spanish verb abandonar in the preterite tense. The verb abandonar means to leave, forsake, or give up a place, person, or obligation. In the phrase “ellos abandonaron la ciudad,” it translates as “they abandoned the city.” The preterite tense is used to describe completed actions that occurred at a specific point in the past.

Grammar notes: abandonar is a regular -ar verb, so the preterite endings for it are –é, –aste, –ó, –amos, –asteis, –aron. Thus the full preterite conjugation is: yo abandoné, tú abandonaste, él/ella/usted abandonó, nosotros/nosotras abandonamos, vosotros/vosotras abandonasteis, ellos/ellas/ustedes abandonaron. In colloquial speech, abandonment can be replaced by other verbs such as dejar or renunciar when the context suggests relinquishing responsibility rather than physically leaving a place.

Usage examples:

- Después de la tormenta, los pescadores abandonaron sus barcos.

- La comunidad abandonó el proyecto cuando se dieron cuenta de sus riesgos.

The participle of abandonar is abandonado (masculine) or abandonada (feminine). It is commonly used in past participle constructions such as “el edificio fue abandonado por la familia.” The adjective “abandonado” carries a sense of desolation, comparable to “forsaken.”

In Spanish literature, the verb often appears in narratives describing moral or physical deserts, as in the epic tales of characters who abandon their duties. It also appears in legal contexts where abandonment of rights is discussed.

Related forms include the infinitive abandonar, the present subjunctive abando, and the gerund abandono. Understanding its conjugation and nuance helps readers interpret historical and contemporary texts accurately.